章 77: Chapter 77: Welcoming New Allies

After stepping through the shimmering space portal, Fisher Tiger, Jinbe, Koala, and Hatchan froze in awe as they gazed at the breathtaking scene before them. The vast, endless sky stretched in every direction, vibrant and alive. Below their feet, a floating island thrived among the sea of clouds, bustling with life. Buildings were under construction, and citizens moved about purposefully.

"This… this is your kingdom?" Fisher Tiger finally asked, his deep voice filled with disbelief.

William grinned, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Yep. Welcome to Valoria—a kingdom that'll stand as a symbol of freedom and defiance against the World Government."

Jinbe stared at the floating landscape, his eyes wide. "A kingdom… in the sky? I've heard of Sky Islands, but this is beyond anything I imagined."

Koala, sitting on William's shoulder, clutched his collar nervously but giggled. "Are we really in the sky? It's like something out of a storybook."

Hatchan spun around. "How is this even possible? An island floating in a sea of clouds! This is crazy!"

Robin stepped forward, her calm voice cutting through their amazement. "This is just the beginning. Once the palace and the capital city, Volaris, are complete, we plan to add more islands to expand the kingdom."

Tiger's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Add more islands? How would you even do that?"

Marigold stepped forward with a proud smile. "With my ability. I ate the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, which lets me make objects and even land masses float."

William clapped Tiger on the back, his grin widening. "I told you that in two years, Fish-Man Island would be safe, didn't I? What I didn't tell you was how."

Fisher Tiger blinked, stunned. "You mean to bring Fish-Man Island here? To your kingdom?"

William nodded. "Exactly. The fish-men and merfolk will be safe here. And for the first time, they'll get to live above the sea, under the open sky. Of course, I won't force anyone to leave their home. Only those who want to come will be brought here."

Tiger's throat tightened, and he struggled to find words. "That… is…"

William cut him off with a firm yet kind tone. "It's a place where they'll finally belong, Tiger. And where no one will ever look down on them again."

Tiger's eyes filled with emotion as he bowed his head. "Thank you… Sir William. I think my people will love living here."

Jinbe and Hatchan echoed Tiger's gratitude, their voices filled with emotion.

William waved them off with a grin. "Don't worry about it. You're my people now."

As they were speaking, a familiar voice called out from nearby. "Well, well, looks like you've brought back some interesting company, kid."

Everyone turned to see Rayleigh approaching, his usual smirk lighting up his face. His gaze immediately landed on Hatchan. "Hatchan! It's been a long time."

Hatchan's face lit up with recognition. "Rayleigh-san!"

Rayleigh chuckled and looked at william. "Hatchan saved me from drowning once, when he was a kid."

William burst out laughing. "Saved you from drowning? What were you doing, old man? Too drunk to swim?"

Rayleigh shot him a sharp look, but his grin betrayed his amusement. "Keep talking, brat, and I'll show you why they call me the Dark King."

"Dark King or not, I could take you down any day." William teased.

The two began their usual back-and-forth bickering, drawing laughter from the rest, but Tiger and Jinbe froze in shock. Jinbe stammered. "Dark King… as in Silvers Rayleigh, the vice-captain of the Pirate King's crew?"

Fisher Tiger's eyes widened. "This… this man sailed with the Pirate King?"

William laughed and waved it off. "He's just an old drunkard."

Rayleigh rolled his eyes but didn't deny it.

Once the laughter settled, William addressed the group. "Alright, listen up. There are a few laws in Valoria you need to know. First, equality is non-negotiable. No discrimination, no slavery, no injustice. Everyone here works together to build a better future. You can read all the laws later."

As he spoke, a few curious Valorian citizens approached the group.

One of them, a young woman, looked at Tiger, Hatchan and Jinbe with wide eyes. "Are you fish-men? One of the races Robin-sama told us about?"

"What's it like living under the sea?" another asked, their voice filled with fascination.

Another chimed in, "Does the bottom of the ocean have a sun?"

Jinbe glanced at Tiger, unsure, before answering, "Yes, we are fish-men. Life under the sea is… peaceful. The currents, the coral, it's like another world. As for the sun, we don't have one. But the sunlight come from the roots of the Sunlight Tree Eve, which would absorb sunlight on the surface, and then sends it down to Fish-Man Island."

The citizens listened intently, their curiosity genuine and free of malice. Tiger, observing this, felt a small smile tug at his lips. For the first time, he saw humans not as enemies but as people who could coexist with his kind.

Meanwhile, Hancock had wandered off to the construction site where workers were busily building the palace and capital city. Standing tall with her arms crossed, she called out, "What's taking so long? Hurry up! I want to have a child with my husband as soon as possible."

She started daydreaming, a soft smile spreading across her face as she imagined herself holding a baby with William's features.

The workers, clearly enamored with her, straightened up. One of them shouted, "Yes, Hancock-sama! We'll work faster! Hurry up, everyone! Work harder for Hancock-sama!"

The workers began moving with renewed vigor, shouting her name as they worked.

As night fell, a grand banquet was held to welcome Tiger, Jinbe, Hatchan, and Koala. Long tables filled with food and drink stretched across the open square, and the citizens of Valoria joined in the celebration. Laughter and music echoed under the starry sky.

Koala sat beside Robin, happily eating as she listened to the others talk. Jinbe and Tiger shared tales of their adventures, while Hatchan entertained the crowd with an funny octopus dance.

When the feast began to wind down, William stood, raising his glass. "To our new allies—Tiger, Jinbe, Hatchan, and little Koala. Together, we'll build a world where no one has to suffer under tyranny!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices ringing out into the night.

As the celebration came to an end, William turned to Tiger, Jinbe, and Hatchan. "Alright, fun's over. Now it's time to get stronger. You all need to master advanced Armament Haki and Observation Haki. Hatchan, you'll also learn proper swordsmanship."

Rayleigh groaned loudly, rubbing his temples. "Let me guess—you're dumping the training on me?"

William smirked. "Of course. Who better than the Dark King to teach them? Besides, you're retired. What else are you going to do?"

Rayleigh sighed dramatically. "This is elder abuse. Aren't there laws about taking care of the elderly here?"

William rolled his eyes. "There are laws to protect the sick and the frail, not someone like you. You're still one of the strongest people in the world."

Then William turned to Shakky. "Shakky, keep an eye out for talent. We need strong and capable people to join us."

Shakky smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, William. I'll keep looking."

Tiger looked at William, his respect for the young leader growing. "You really believe we can change the world, don't you?"

William smiled. "I don't just believe it, Tiger. I know it."